Comments: 8th JUNE 2007

Dear Mr. Hersch,

Shame on you for not returning to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007.  We fell in love with your music and comedy in 2006 and looked forward to seeing you again as well as introducing other family members to your hilarious renditions.

My granddaughter is a music major at Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.  I shared the CD purchased at your 2006 show.  She in turn shared it with her professors and students at the college.  They, too, fell in love with you, your musical talents and your command of comedic language.  We were looking forward to a personal connection in 2007 but surely understand your need for a change. 
We will continue to be on the lookout for you, wherever you may be.  And of course, we shall check frequently for new CDs.

I wish you good health, a clear mind and strong body to continue all of the good things you have just begun.

Carolyn Dawson Hayford, West Virginia

I wouldn't be too concerned about the perceived lack of a market for your comedy.  There seem to be several groups capable of overcoming the paradoxes you suggest in your blog:

People who like classical music(1) but do not like opera

People who can laugh at their own pretentions (having been brought up in an Irish Catholic household, we always have done, and the same seems to be true of Asian, Black, Jewish, Female, English etc, etc)

The Radio 4 audience who are so busy listening to programmes by James Naughtie about classical music that they don't really listen to much classical music, so have no emotional attachment to any piece of music you might pull apart, but know enough from the selections Mr Naughtie plays to get the jokes.
Footnote (1):  liking Classical music is rather like liking pop music.  It is too broad and sweeping.  Surely, what I like is a particular musician playing a particular piece of music by a particular composer on a particular instrument.  Change any one component, and I may not like it.  However, for simplicity, let us assume some people "like classical music" generally, but not opera in particular.

Malcolm and Bridget Appleby, UK